2.5. Fibrinogen Purification

Fibrinogen was purified from patients and controls using the previously described ethanol precipitation method [14]. Fibrinogen concentration was determined spectrophotometrically at 280 nm (the extinction coefficient 1.51 mg/mL was used). Fibrinogen purity, assessed by densitometry of Coomassie-stained polyacrylamide gels after electrophoresis under reducing condition and expressed as a percentage of total protein content, resulted in 98.7 ± 1.9% of total protein content in controls and 97.5 ± 2.2% in patients with liver cirrhosis. No significant statistical difference was observed in the purification yield between controls and patients.